Lumiel returned to school the next day, his body rested and his soul lighter after fulfilling Augustus' final wish. As he stood before the classroom door, he took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. The familiar noise of students inside reminded him he was no longer in a world of dying empires and ancient betrayal. He was back in the present.
Opening the door, he stepped inside.
"Hey Lumiel!" Skye shouted, waving enthusiastically. "It's good to have you back."
"Yo, Lumiel," added Claud with a nod. "You should've told us you were sick. Had everyone worried—especially the princess." He smirked and glanced over his shoulder.
Lady Nishia, arms crossed, glanced sideways at Lumiel. When their eyes met, he smiled. Her cheeks flushed slightly and she quickly looked away.
"Sorry for making you guys worry," Lumiel said softly, eyes cast down. "I'll make sure to tell you next time."
"Hoy!" Cliffhard shouted from across the room. "You weren't sick! You just skipped class, didn't you?!"
Claud turned to him, his usual relaxed demeanor suddenly sharpened. "Hey man—if he was sick, he needed rest. What are you trying to prove, huh?"
Cliffhard shrank back into his seat. "Whatever," he muttered.
As Lumiel took his seat, Skye began chattering about everything he missed. But midway through, he stopped, quickly retreating to his desk.
Lumiel blinked in confusion. A cold chill crept up his spine.
[System: Dangerous anomaly behind. Immediately run away from Viera.]
Lumiel turned around slowly.
Ms. Viera stood behind him with a shadowy grin. "Oh Lumiel~ It's only been three days since you enrolled and you've already skipped class?"
What followed was five straight minutes of intense scolding.
Kurt's familiar system box appeared in front of him.
[System: This guy can't catch a break.]
"This guy can't catch a break," Kurt echoed in a deadpan tone.
Finally, the lecture ended, and Ms. Viera began class. She taught with clarity and intensity, mixing foundational knowledge from Civilian schools with specialized insight into each student's Gift. Each student was called up for personalized instruction.
Except for Lumiel.
And Skye.
While others practiced with training dummies or dueled under supervision, the two of them remained standing near Ms. Viera.
"Uhm... Ms. Viera?" Lumiel asked, puzzled. "Why are we just standing here?"
"Yeah, why us?" Skye added.
Ms. Viera sighed. "Because the two of you would ruin everyone else's training."
She gestured toward the others.
"Skye, your random powers might blow someone across the room. And Lumiel—do you not remember what you did two days ago? Because of you, class was canceled."
"Sorry..." Lumiel said sheepishly.
"By the way, Ms. Viera," Skye asked curiously, "what's your Gift?"
"Gift Analysis," she replied without hesitation. "I can analyze any Gift I see—its strengths, weaknesses, potential. That's why I was assigned to Class A."
"Whoa, that's awesome," Skye said.
"And yet..." she looked at him with concern, "Yours, Skye, doesn't respond to my Gift at all. I can't read it. It's like trying to analyze a void."
Skye's grin faltered. Lumiel glanced at him, recalling what the system had revealed.
Then Ms. Viera turned to Lumiel.
"As for you," she said, folding her arms, "your Gift... doesn't have any identifiable weaknesses or limitations. It's frightening, honestly. Its full potential depends entirely on you—and that's beyond my ability to teach."
Lumiel stood quietly, her words lingering in his mind.
The clang of swords, the whoosh of magic, and the determined shouts of his classmates echoed around him.
Yet his world had grown quieter.
No weaknesses. No limitations... Then why did it still feel like something inside me was missing?
He watched the others train, silently reflecting on what it meant to be powerful—and alone.